What Is The BEST WAY To Run BACKING TRACKS? Methods/Setup/Pros&Cons

In this video, we are going to go over the most common ways to run backing tracks live, how to set them up, and the pros & cons of each. I'm going to go over the single file method as well as the multi track method, and you can decide which one is the best way that works for you and your band to run your backing tracks.

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0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Single File DAW Setup
2:24 - Splitter Cable Setup
5:10 - Sound Demo
5:59 - Common Question
6:57 - MultiTracking DAW Setup
9:04 - Stage Traxx Multitrack Setup
11:10 - Connecting to Audio Interface
12:07 - MultiTrack Routing
14:37 - MultiTrack Audio Demo
16:27 - Mp3 vs Wav
17:22 - Single File Pros
18:40 - Single File Cons
20:17 - Multi Tracking Pros
21:52 - Multi Tracking Cons
22:50 - Best Of Both Worlds Hack
26:12 - How I Do Backing Tracks Live
28:04 - Outro

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[timsellsted]

Super helpful. I'm just getting started with using backing tracks in our band.

[hosdrummer]

Scott, your videos and presentations are always top notch. Thank you very much for providing such a detailed dive into the various topics you cover. The info is invaluable.

[HasseC]

Your channel is a gem!! You make complicated stuff simple - and that's rare! Keep it up!

[pdxfun]

I was a solo act and made my own tracks for a cover act.
Didnt have digital then. 1st used cassettes, then minidisk and DAT TAPES. I usually just used the input in the mixer and mixed from the stage.

[JonVokal]

I've been scouring the internet for the best single file click track setup option, this was by far and away the easiest and most budget conscious setup, and explained the best as well. Thanks a ton.

[robfriedrich]

I use a Ketron module, it can play 6 channel wav files, tracks 1 and 2 are grouped to stereo, tracks 3 to 6 are mono, 6 can be routed to aux out, so been used as click/ cue. You can adjust volume for 5 parts.

[onerom_evad]

HEY SCOTT, , , correction !! @6:20 refering to your stereo input point, , they would both actually go to your left output, TIP is universally connected to "LEFT" . . . . unless you are wearing your headphones backwards then yes you are correct, one would hear the click on the right EAR and the backing track on the you wired up your PA system backwards then we would be back from were we started this comment. HAHAHA, just messing with ya! Cheers from a LOW Voltage sound installer in Los Angeles CA!

[MegaMAWG]

Scott, love your stuff. I also love and use Stage Traxx but now I'm adding in Multitracker and, thanks to a very cool way to trigger Multitracker via Stage Traxx, I'm getting the best of both. The unlimited tracking of Multitracker and the lyrics and playlist set up of Stage Traxx. I'm still overhauling my show to accomplish this (daunting but in the end, I think, worth it) but so far I like the combo of the two. Keep up the great vids, I expand, or at least refresh, my knowledge with each one.

[Necropheliac]

Thanks for the tutorial. I like hearing about different ways of doing stuff.

[fitton]

Very cool! Well explained. One of the reasons I love my X32 so much is that it IS an interface as well as the FOH desk. I can set it up to receive any number of channels from the card (computer) and mix them in as regular channels like they were live. With 16 xlr outs I can keep IEM's stereo if desired.
And for anyone knocking the X32 for it's pre's, just use the DL32 and your using the Midas pre's that are in it.
For the money, you can't beat that setup. Cheers

[frankadams]

You do a really great job of presenting this information. The Pros and Cons info alone is very helpful. My wife and I have a duo and we use backing tracks on some of our tunes - mainly for private gigs when some party tunes are called for. I've always used the single-track method - click on the left and audio on the right. We mix from the stage. Whenever we've done larger shows involving a sound company, I hand the guy two lines. Sorry, but many sound people are not good and can hurt you. Giving them two lines is darn near foolproof. Here's the MAIN reason I do a single track: Our gig requires a lot of concentration. I'm singing, playing, calling songs on the fly, dealing with the wedding coordinator, talking to the father of the bride, making sure the timeline is followed and much more. There's no way I could deal with mixing multiple tracks and lastly, I'm 100% convinced the audience could not tell the difference. Most of the rooms we play in were never designed to have live music - hotels, country clubs, vineyards, etc. I want it to sound as good as possible but I would never have the time to invest the time into doing multitrack mixes for our tracks - there's no space in my life for dealing with all of that. I mix our tracks in Protools and with new backing tracks I may have to go back and do another mix or two to get balances right, but that's a quick process. CROSS TALK - I've found that whenever I had a cross-talk issue, it was usually something like the click going through an Aux track - like for reverb. I use minimal effects now for our tracks for that reason and also because with these funky rooms we play in sometimes, the last thing you need is reverb in a room with a bad echo or slapback. I can add a touch of reverb from the board in a dry room but I can't take reverb off if it's on the track. Anyway, great info Scott and thanks for investing the time to explain it all clearly. Much appreciated.

[byroncjohnston]

THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge with us!

[thecoastCoverband]

Hi Scott thanks for all your videos if I use the direct box and the backing goes to front of house that is in mono ? No stereo backing Gr.Ness

[Leeturnal]

a lot of times, when bleed from click/cues makes it into the backing tracks (with the single file method), it's because we either didn't pan the respective tracks 100% to both sides, OR we accidentally left some reverb or something on the master channel when creating the backing tracks... not sure if this may be what some people are experiencing with this issue, but we specifically had some bleed from the click because we left a reverb on the master when setting up tracks on a few songs.

[chrisroberts]

Have to say Scott these tutorials have been a mind of information. They have helped me a lot prepare my own backing tracks to play along with. Thank you

[Riffman]

If you didn't want the sound guy to be able to remix your tracks, you can always mix them on your XR and send them to an aux for FOH. And that was a great tip on how you switch from multi track to single! Great stuff, as always.

[emersontanakamotion]

Great video! the hybrid method is the best and easier regarding control and less cables...I use Prime with separated stems but use the Y cable (click/tracks) going out of the iPad...

[garrettheyns]

Hi Scott! I love your videos, especially your ability to communicate clearly and simply. I am in the middle of switching from using Loop Community to Stage Traxx, and your videos have been invaluable! I am using tracks for classic and 90s rock covers with full band and duo, and a Linkin Park tribute called Hybrid Theory in north Texas. I started out using MainStage which was great but as I play guitar, keys, and run tracks I needed to simplify. Im loving Stage Traxx so far. Thanks again!

[msd]

Hey Scott! Your videos have really helped propel me and my live music gear and techniques. Thanks for all your videos!

I wanted to share How I currently run backing tracks. I use an iPad and Stage Traxx, connect iPad up to my XR18 via USB and route audio to each of the channels using USB input on the channels instead of the XLR inputs. I also pass through my StageTraxx midi commands through the USB input to the MIDI out of the mixer into my Kemper. A small con of XR18 midi pass through is it disable midi support for the XR18 but pros outweigh cons for me currently!

TLDR; My Channels 5-8 are my bass, synth, backing vox and eDrums being fed directly from iPad to mixer USB input.

[davidthomas]

Hey Scott, what’s the benefit of using the DI box as opposed to just going audio output from the iPad into a mono XLR splitter?